"All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1969: On Dark Shadows, Ned Stuart (Roger Davis, in his second role on the show) showed up at Collinwood looking for Chris. He found Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) and Julia (Grayson Hall) at Chris's cottage, and told them that Chris was engaged to his sister implying that she was now dead.

1972: On Another World, Mary (Virginia Dwyer) believed Paula (Beverley Owen) wasn't right for Russ since she was more interested in her work than anything else, but Jim (Hugh Marlowe) and Alice (Jacqueline Courtney) felt it was up to Russ (Robert Hover) to decide.

1976: The film Taxi Driver was released, during which Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) would knock over his television set while watching a scene between Jill Foster (Brenda Dickson) and Brock Reynolds (Beau Kazer) on The Young and the Restless.

Thanks to FoxCrane for sending in the item above.

1980: On The Edge of Night, Miles (Joel Crothers) attacked Derek (Dennis Parker).

1983: On General Hospital, Susan Moore was murdered in her bedroom as she was preparing for her meeting with the Quartermaines whom she was blackmailing. Suspects were Scotty, Heather, Alan, Monica, and Edward. The true assailant turned out to be Crane Tolliver, Lila's first husband who had teamed up with Susan to blackmail the Q's with info that Crane and Lila were never legally divorced before she married Edward! (Crane thought Susan would double-cross him.)

Thanks to Jack for sending in the item above.

1986: On Santa Barbara, Mason (Lane Davies) gave Mary (Harley Kozak) a horse on her birthday.

1993: Actress Joy Garrett died at age 47. She was known by soap fans for her roles as Jo Johnson in Days of our Lives and Boobsie Caswell Austin in The Young and the Restless.

1993: On Genreal Hospital, Sean (John Reilly) told Tiffany (Sharon Wyatt) she might lose him if she continued to not play fair in her effort to get custody of Lucas.

Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the item above.

1994: Actor Sorrell Booke, best known for playing Boss Hogg on The Dukes of Hazard, died at age 64. Before Dukes of Hazard, he played District Attorney Ira Newton in The Guiding Light.

1994: Jennifer Gareis represented New York in the Miss USA pageant, finishing in the top six. She currently plays Donna Logan on The Bold and the Beautiful.

2000: On One Life to Live, Nora (Hillary B. Smith) interrupted Bo (Robert S. Woods) and Lindsay's (Catherine Hickland) wedding. Said Nora: "She changed your results on the fertility test, making you think you couldn't father a child. She changed the results, Bo. You are about to marry the woman who changed all our lives."

2005: Former Emmerdale and Coronation Street star Stan Richards died at age 74.

2007: On All My Children, Jamie (Justin Bruening) asked for Maggie's (Elizabeth Hendrickson) help with Bianca.

Thanks to Na'Vell for sending in the clip above.

2008: On Guiding Light, Natalia (Jessica Leccia) admitted to Gus (Ricky Paull Goldin) that she locked Olivia (Crystal Chappell) in the bathroom at the Bauer cabin to keep her from ruining their wedding day.

2012: One-time As the World Turns musical guest star Whitney Houston died at age 48.